My Top Ten List Of Extremely Annoying Web Page Design
Elements!
By Robert Potter
Easy navigation and usability are one of the most important
aspects of creating a "user friendly" website. However, there
are still a "plethora" of web-sites out there that are, to be
politically correct, “functionally challenged.” Does your
website keep people captivated, or does it send them fleeing
as soon as they get to the first page? Do you offend your
visitors by employing these ten web design faux pau’s?
1) Music, or any voice recording that automatically plays
when you enter a site, without giving me the option of turning
it off. Yes, there are still website owners who think that
putting their Midi version of "Play That Funky Music Whiteboy,"
will some how impress their visitors. Always give people the
option of listening to any recorded information you have on
your website. Don't automatically assume that your visitors
will be captivated by your voice, or your music.
2) Spinning or animated GIF's of any type. Floating cursors
that follow me around while I am visiting your site. If you
want to distract me from viewing your information, then
incorporate this “flotation device” into your design
repertoire! It is like having a security guard follow me
around in a retail store to make sure that I’m not stealing!
Oversize font that takes up the whole landing page, and web
pages that do not fit in my viewing screen. If you are not
sure how your website looks on other browsers, then use this
free tool called Browsersizer: http://www.applythis.com/browsersizer/.
It helps web developers check to see how their web pages look
on different screen resolutions. Slow loading web pages.
Compress, or eliminate large lumbering graphics. Your landing
page should load in 10 seconds or less. Here is a website that
will analyze your load times: http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.htm
Web-sites that are “Under Construction.” Don’t promote what
you don’t have. It is almost guaranteed that once I see that
logo on your site, I will not visit again to see if your
construction is finished. Web-sites that don’t not allow me to
use the “back button.” Eliminating my ability to move out of,
or through your website, has me looking for the X button. If
you want people to visit much, and often, then make your site
with the dynamic content that will persuade people to add your
site to their favorites file.
3) Any website that looks like it resembles Times Square in
New York City. Multitudes of “flashing” or “blinking” banner
ads shoved in my face as soon as I reach your landing page
will send me running. Flashing banner ads are the equivalent
of a carnival barker trying to lure people into his sideshow!
You don’t need to shout to people to get you message heard on
the Internet. Keep you banner ad’s limited, and your content
abundant!
4) Website owners that make it too hard to navigate their
site. If I have to jump through "link hoops" to get to your
information I am outta there. Make your product, price, or
service, clear, precise, and easy to find. The "about us,” or
"frequently asked questions" section of some web-sites, leaves
me with more questions than answers. Design your content so
that even elementary school children can understand the
purpose of your website.
5) Pop-Ups..Pop-Ups...Pop-Ups..I don't mind one, or even a
few. But, if I have to close multiple pop-ups to get to your
website, I will flee the scene. I have encountered some sites
that had so many pop-ups they froze my computer screen, even
with blocking software. The same applies for any of those
"fly-in" or "hover ads" that bounce across my computer screen.
If you have to use anything, incorporate a pop-up that loads
when a visitor leaves, not before, or during my visit to your
site.
6) A page full of dead links and constant "Page Not Found"
error messages. Keep your links up to date and take down the
links that are no longer active.
7) Cursing or using worn out phrases like "Kick Butt," or
"Kick Ass." (Example: “Kick Ass Copy-Writing Service,” “Kick
Butt Web Marketing”). I can't exit fast enough when I see
anyone using that phrase in website advertising copy. It maybe
an excellent marketing headline, but for me, it is a total
turn-off. Impress your visitors with intelligent, informative,
advertising copy and content.
8) AND SOMEONE-ANYONE-PLEASE! Stop the "ultra" dark
background accented with an equally dark font! I have
discovered many a website in which the background, and the
text fonts are indistinguishable from each other! It looks
like your are staring into a black hole! Lighten things up a
bit, and don’t make me turn the brightness controls on my
monitor to full! And no, I don’t want to highlight the text so
I can read the information on your website!
9) While I love Marcomedia's Flash, I think it should be
used sparingly. Unless you have a film site, or a product that
requires a detailed visual description, just forget about
using flash for e-commerce. There is a majority of people out
there who still use those pokey dial-up modems (me being one
of them) and I "hate the wait!"
Even when I use the skip feature it still takes to long for
the page to load. While doing research for The Ultimate Guide
To Products For Resale: http://www.productsforresale.com I
noticed that some designer clothing wholesalers where using
flash to sell their product. The same applied to retail
sellers of designer shoes, designer handbags, and designer
clothing.
My question is why? If you are using your site to sell a
product, just stick with high quality, fast loading photos,
followed up with good creative descriptions of each item. If
you have to make people wait to buy your product, people will
buy your product somewhere else! If you absolutely,
positively, must use Flash, then make your files as fast
loading as possible, especially if you are selling a product.
10) Solid blocks of text with no breaks between paragraphs.
The only industry that gets away with that format is
newspaper, book, and magazine publishers. The Internet is a
different world altogether. People not only want their
information quick, but they also want to read it in smaller,
"bit size" portions of content.
I like to skim over articles for the main points. If I have
to "slog" through content that looks like a rambling diatribe
with no paragraph breaks, I’m gone! Make your content clear
and concise. Break up your paragraphs, and use plenty of
"white space" when possible.
So there they are. My “Top Ten” pet peeves of dysfunctional
design! Do any of them apply to you? Remember, you only get
one chance to make a good impression. There literally billions
of web sites out there, and you need to capture your visitors
attention within seconds. Make your site neat and ready to
greet! For more information about how to make your site user
friendly, go to Jakob Nielsen's Usability Site: http://www.useit.com/
site for tips on better website design.
Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus products
specialist. He is the author of “The Ultimate Guide To
Products For Resale!” Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply
Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea
Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 160
page ebook at: . dead link Jan
18 07
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